In November 1916, the Allied High Commands set the military objectives for the spring of 1917 : a major offensive led by the French on the Chemin des Dames, to be preceded few days earlier by a diversionary attack on the British front. Preparations for the Battle of Arras started immediately after. For six months, the New Zealand tunnellers developed and interconnected the town's Medieval quarries to create a military encampment beneath Arras.

On Monday 9th April 1917, at 05:30 am, the British troops moved into the attack along a 20km front. To the north, the Canadians achieved a stunning victory by capturing Vimy Ridge. To the East of Arras, English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Newfoundland and South African troops... burst out of the caves and trenches, crossed the German lines and advanced towards Monchy-le-Preux. To the south, from 11th April onwards the Australians attacked the heavily fortified enemy positions at Bullecourt. In the early days of the battle, the surprise effect earned the Allies rapid progress and few casualties.

With the arrival of reinforcements, the Germans launched vigorous counterattacks and checked the British offensive. The human toll worsened with every passing day until, by the evening of 16th May, it stood at 150,000 losses for the British Army and almost as many on the German side.

In terms of military gain, the Battle of Arras pushed back the front line and opened up Arras, which had been targeted by shell fire since October 1914.

The “Memories of the Battle of Arras” programme initiated by the Wellington Tunnels, gathers eye-witness accounts of soldiers who served in the Artois.

The majority of the documents was provided by visitors to the Wellington Tunnels, come to walk in the footsteps of their soldier forebears. The "Eyes of the Battle of Arras" exhibition presents extracts from these life stories. The destinies of ordinary people are intermingled with those who marked history, and so a New Zealand nurse features alongside an English poet, and a German airman stands beside an Indian cavalryman. "Eyes of the Battle of Arras", a tribute in the form of 120 portraits of men and women come from the four corners of the world to fight in this corner of Artois.

The Wellington Tunnels team would like to thank the families of soldiers who served in the Battle of Arras. Thanks must also go to the Archaeological Service of the Town of Arras, in the person of its DIrector, Alain Jacques, who has placed his knowledge and his own holdings at our disposal. Also, thanks to Delphine Dufour, teacher assigned to the Wellington Tunnels, for designing a support section allowing educational institutes to raise awareness among their students on the several topics approached by the exhibition.